Ernest Potts was seen by an employee walking through the fishing gear aisle awkwardly, as though he had something in his black pants. It was “as if he had a long item in his pants leg,” according to the police report.

A quick investigation of the aisle revealed removed tags and labels, and security footage of the culprit’s license plate led to his arrest at a gas station not long after.

Potts confessed to taking $250 worth of equipment, including several poles, lures, plastic worms and line. Sounds like all he needed was a fishing license, but something tells us he wouldn’t have bothered to buy one.

We’ll let you make your own jokes about sticking fishing poles in your pants.